Free MailDeck for iPad App Delivers Desktop-Style Email to Tablets

It's almost hard to remember a time when Apple's built-in Mail app was the only iOS game in town, but a new third-party contender named MailDeck is looking to tackle IMAP accounts with desktop efficiency.

Crono, Inc. announced the release of MailDeck on Thursday, a free iPad email client app that promises a robust, desktop-class feature set to Apple's tablet devices, while remaining easy enough for users of all ages.

The developer calls it "forward-thinking email" within a colorful, stylish user interface. Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Outlook or any other IMAP email account can be accessed individually or from a universal inbox, each with personalized passcode protection to keep sensitive missives away from prying eyes.

MailDeck offers three viewing modes: List for a more traditional email experience, Preview for full-screen view of messages or Decks, which turns each message into a card, complete with stackable conversations. The app also features a far wider range of search options than competing solutions.

Users of Apple's built-in Reminders app can manage tasks right from inside MailDeck, including the use of rich data from emails. Last but not least, the app can also provide push notifications for incoming emails, even from accounts that don't support them.

MailDeck is a free download for the iPad only, with the option to access premium features via in-app purchase for $4.99 per year. The paid upgrade currently allows creation of multiple personalized email signatures and also removes ads from the app.